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Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Widespread use of contemporary imaging techniques (ultrasound, computerized axial tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging scans) have led to the incidental discovery of asymptomatic adrenal neoplasms with increasing frequency. Patients with such adrenal "incidentalomas" typically have no clinical manifestations of adrenal cortical hyperfunction at the time of discovery. We have studied 122 patients with asymptomatic adrenal masses ranging in size from 2 to 7 cm in diameter from 1978 to 1988. Selected patients, after adrenal metastases, pheochromocytoma, myelolipomas, and cysts were ruled out, were further evaluated for adrenal cortical hyperfunction by measuring urinary 17-hydroxysteroids, 17-ketosteroids, and free cortisol, serum A.M., P.M. cortisol, and plasma ACTH levels. These values were also measured before and after dexamethasone suppression. NP-59 adrenal scintiscans were performed on all patients. Six patients were identified with sub-clinical Cushing's syndrome. Baseline cortisol levels were normal in each of these patients. Loss of diurnal rhythm appeared to be the most sensitive indicator of abnormal adrenal cortical function. When adrenalectomy is performed in such patients, especially when contralateral adrenal gland suppression is evidenced by NP-59 scanning or other biochemical assessment, perioperative steroids should be administered in a manner similar to that used for patients with symptomatic Cushing's syndrome. Unilateral adrenalectomy in a patient with an asymptomatic adrenal adenoma, insufficiently studied, may result in Addisonian crisis.
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PMID:Sub-clinical Cushing's syndrome in patients with adrenal gland incidentalomas. Pitfalls in diagnosis and management. 216 35

Twenty-seven cases of classical bronchial carcinoid were followed up for at least 10 years after curative resection. Surgery was conservative in 15 cases. True lymph-node metastases were identified at operation in two cases. Distant metastases were confirmed in two patients after 5 and 10 years, respectively. One died of unrelated cause 10 years, and the other is alive 19 years, postoperatively. Radiotherapy relieved bone pain in both cases, and chemotherapy halted disease progression in one of them. In immunostaining the original histologic material, all carcinoids expressed neuron-specific enolase, and most expressed chromogranin A, synaptophysin and serotonin. Demonstration of ACTH and related opiopeptides did not portend a more aggressive course or identify cases with nodal metastases. Despite their low malignant potential, long-term follow-up of bronchial carcinoids is warranted. Even in the rare cases of distant metastases, long-term survival seems to be the rule. The occasional presence of nodal metastases and/or demonstration of ACTH and other opiopeptides, while more frequent in neuroendocrine carcinomas, are not inconsistent with bronchial carcinoids and seemingly do not alter their overall favorable prognosis.
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PMID:Long-term follow-up of classical bronchial carcinoid tumors. Clinicopathologic observations. 216 32

The highest incidence of remote neuromuscular disorders in cancer has previously been reported in lung carcinoma. The clinical incidence of neuromuscular disorder was estimated and correlated with muscle histology and the histological type of lung tumour in 100 patients with lung carcinoma who were studied prospectively. Thirty-five patients had small cell carcinoma and 65 patients non-small cell lung cancer. Clinically, 33 patients had a polymyopathy, of whom 18 had a cachectic myopathy and 15 had a proximal myopathy (two patients had Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, one presented with dermatomyositis and one had evidence of ectopic ACTH production). Cachexia was more common in non-small cell cancer; proximal myopathy was more common in small cell cancer. Ninety-nine patients had abnormal muscle histology; 74 had type II atrophy, 12 had type I and II atrophy, one had type I atrophy and 12 had necrosis. The majority of patients were affected sub-clinically and the clinical entities of cachectic and proximal myopathy did not correspond to previous pathological classifications. Atrophy was not related to the duration of tumour symptoms, ageing, clinical type of myopathy or histological type of lung tumour, and was statistically different from that seen in controls. Qualitatively, the presence of weight loss, muscle wasting and metastatic disease were not factors in the development of atrophy. Similarly, necrosis was not related to the type of lung tumour, the presence of metastases, ageing, weight loss, muscle wasting, duration of tumour symptoms or the clinical form of myopathy. This study demonstrates that lung carcinoma has a direct effect on the motor unit, including atrophy, a necrobiotic myopathy and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Clinical assessment does not accurately assess the 'remote' neuromuscular effects of cancer on the motor unit.
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PMID:A clinicopathological study of the paraneoplastic neuromuscular syndromes associated with lung cancer. 217 Oct 9

We have used the gastrinoma syndrome to examine the effects of SMS. Acutely, SMS decreased acid secretion and restored the BAO/MAO to normal in eight of eight patients. Basal and secretin-stimulated gastrin responses were suppressed but not normalized. Treatment for up to 2 years with SMS controlled symptoms, suppressed serum gastrin, and suppressed acid secretion. Treatment for 1 year or longer decreased tumor secretion of gastrin and diminished basal acid secretion, an effect that persisted for 48 hours after withdrawal of SMS. SMS treatment arrested progression of tumor growth only in patients in whom there was a reduction in gastrin and gastric acid secretion. In patients with metastatic disease who had high levels of gastrin, SMS treatment for 5 to 24 months did not inhibit tumor growth or decrease gastrin levels. In those patients in whom a reduction in the blood flow to liver tumors was shown angiographically, there was a progressive improvement in hormone secretion and in tumor size in the ensuing year of treatment, suggesting that a major target of SMS is that vascular supply of the tumors. Tumors shown to produce peptides other than gastrin, for example ACTH, were found to be markedly resistant to the action of SMS and continued to grow in an unbridled manner.
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PMID:The use of somatostatin analog in gastroenteropancreatic tumors other than carcinoid. 240 20

Thirteen cases of primary endocrine carcinoma of the skin (Merkel cell carcinoma) were reviewed with the aim of defining the morphological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural criteria for diagnosis. The tumour cells were characterized by their scanty cytoplasm, generally small uniform nuclei with finely dispersed chromatin and multiple small nucleoli. Nuclear shapes varied from round to spindle, with larger and pleomorphic forms predominating in 2 tumours. A striking feature seen in 12 tumours was the occurrence of a "ball-in-mitt" pattern represented by 1 or 2 crescentic tumour cells closely wrapped around an oval cell. Staining for neuron-specific enolase was the most consistent marker of the tumour and the characteristic juxtanuclear globular staining for keratin and cytokeratin and the occasional coexpression of neurofilament set this tumour apart from other cutaneous neoplasms, in particular, metastatic carcinoid tumours and oat cell carcinoma from the lung. The fine structural features of note were striking paranuclear or juxtanuclear whorls of intermediate filaments, seen in 7 cases, the presence of variable numbers of membrane-bound dense core granules of 80-150 nm diameter in all cases and cytoplasmic spinous or microvillous projections containing microfilaments in 4 cases. Less consistent characteristics of primary endocrine carcinomas of the skin included cell moulding, argyrophilia and immunohistochemical staining for ACTH, VIP and calcitonin. The high frequency of vessel invasion in this series is in keeping with the high rate of local recurrence, lymph node metastases and visceral dissemination reported. The distinction from other similar appearing tumours in the skin is discussed.
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PMID:Criteria for the diagnosis of primary endocrine carcinoma of the skin (Merkel cell carcinoma). A histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of 13 cases. 243 4

Paraffin-embedded sections of 99 human adrenal and extraadrenal paragangliomas were analyzed by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique for the presence of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and 10 neuropeptides. Each showed diffuse staining for NSE. Most tumors were positive for [Leu5]-enkephalin (76 per cent), [Met5]-enkephalin (75 per cent), somatostatin (67 per cent), and pancreatic polypeptide (51 per cent), followed by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (43 per cent), substance P (31 per cent), ACTH (28 per cent), calcitonin (23 per cent), bombesin (15 per cent), and neurotensin (12 per cent). The neuropeptides paralleled to a large extent those normally found in the sympathetic nervous system. Clinically malignant paragangliomas (n = 25) with proven regional or distant metastases expressed considerably fewer neuropeptides, although the spectrum of those seen remained similar. Malignant paragangliomas contained an average of two neuropeptides per tumor, in contrast to five for the benign tumors (P less than 0.05). Logistic regression analysis of staining results revealed that the paucity of enkephalins, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, and VIP along with the patient's sex was predictive of clinical malignancy. Our results show a definite relationship between expression of neuropeptides and the biologic behavior of these paragangliomas.
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PMID:Decreased expression of neuropeptides in malignant paragangliomas: an immunohistochemical study. 244 10

Small cell lung cancers are neuroendocrine tumours and therefore produce a lot of peptide hormones (calcitonin, ACTH, ADH), as well as the neuropeptide chromogranin A, which are all useful tumour markers. Furthermore, the tumour-associated antigens CEA and TPA, as well as the enzymes neuron specific enolase (NSE) and creatine kinase BB are used as markers in small cell lung cancer. At present, NSE appears to be the best marker for small cell lung cancer; elevated serum NSE levels are found in 65 to 85% of the patients. The serum level of the tumour markers is related to the stage of the tumour. When tumour regression occurs following therapy, elevated pretreatment levels decrease to the normal range. If the marker level increases again, tumour progression is indicated and this can be an early and sensitive sign denoting recurrence. Metastases in the central nervous system can be detected early by marker determination in the cerebrospinal fluid. At present, CEA appears to be the most valuable tumour marker for non-small cell lung cancer, but TPA may also be a useful marker.
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PMID:[Tumor markers in bronchus cancer]. 254 31

A 35-year male patient with clinical and biochemical manifestations of severe hypercorticism was thought to have Cushing's syndrome of pituitary origin. However, the surgically removed pituitary adenoma was not confirmed by pathological examination. There was no improvement after transsphenoidal microsurgery Chest CT scan showed a small mass located at the upper-lobe of the right lung. This tumor (1.8 x 1.0 x 1.0 cm) was removed and one course of radiotherapy with linear accelerator was given. Remission was achieved clinically and biochemically after these therapies. The diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid was confirmed by pathological findings. Metastasis of a lymph node was also proved. The tumor cells was found to contain ACTH and related peptides with radioimmunoassay, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Gel filtration of the tumor extracts showed molecular heterogeniety of ACTH related peptides and that the big-form were in large percentage.
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PMID:[Ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by bronchial carcinoid]. 256 Oct 95

A 47-year-old female presented with hypertension, hypokalaemia, low plasma renin, high plasma aldosterone and was found to have a left adrenal tumour 4 cm in diameter by computerized tomography. Detailed biochemical studies showed high plasma levels of 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone in addition to aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone. Basal 11-deoxycorticosterone levels were particularly high. Corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone concentrations were abnormally sensitive to infusions of ACTH and angiotensin II. Plasma cortisol and assays for sex hormones were normal although there was evidence that cortisol derived from the neoplasm. At operation a well-differentiated adrenocortical carcinoma weighing 50 g (56 X 30 X 36 mm) was removed. There was no evidence of metastases following surgery. Adrenal function returned to normal. Review of the literature suggests that adrenocortical carcinoma should be suspected in patients who otherwise have typical features of Conn's syndrome, but whose tumours are more than 3 cm in diameter. Measurement of steroids such as 11-deoxycorticosterone in addition to aldosterone is recommended since abnormally high values may also help to distinguish between hyperaldosteronism due to adenoma and carcinoma. Previously reported cases of isolated aldosterone production by a carcinoma cannot be substantiated.
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PMID:Hypermineralocorticoidism due to adrenal carcinoma: plasma corticosteroids and their response to ACTH and angiotensin II. 282 95

The expression of NSE and hormone immunoreactivity were examined in lymph node metastases from 15 primary breast carcinomas (6 NSE-positive and 9 NSE-negative). NSE immunoreactivity was expressed in metastases in 7 cases. Both the primary tumour and lymph node metastasis(es) were NSE-positive in 3 cases. In 4 cases NSE-negative primary tumours were associated with NSE-positive lymph node metastases. In 2 of the 7 cases with NSE-positive metastases, the metastatic lesions did not express uniform NSE immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity for hormones (gastrin (1 case), prealbumin (2 cases), ACTH and beta-endorphin (1 case) and somatostatin (1 case] was present in 5 of the 7 NSE-positive lymph node metastatic lesions. In one case only the same hormone (gastrin) was expressed in both the primary tumour and its lymph node metastasis. The present study shows that no relationship exists between primary tumours and the corresponding lymph node metastases with regard to NSE and hormone immunoreactivity.
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PMID:Neuroendocrine activity in metastatic breast carcinomas. 284 16


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